Unloading net for extractors



Oct. 31, 1933. A. C)I LONG 1,932,527

UNLOADING NET FOR EXTRACTORS ATTORNEY.

oct. 31, 1933. V A Q LONG 1,932,527

UNLOADING NET FOR EXTRACTORS Filed March 17, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i INI/'EN TOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 3l, 1933 PATENT orifice,

UNLoADiNG NET Archie v0. Long,

Application March 17,

3 Claims.

-My invention relates to extractors and more particularly to loading and unloading nets for extractors.

Nets or" this character have been made of a circular series of cords provided with rings on their lower ends for receiving a draw-cord to gather the ends together, but have been found to be impractical because the cords were not sufficiently durable, and for the reason that the net would not completely unload when the draw cord was released.

Other nets have been-constructed of canvas, duck, or similar material formedinto a bag by drawing the lower circumferential edge together with a draw string. The latter type of net proved unsatisfactory for the reason that the passage of water from the articles in the bag was hindered by the relatively closely woven material.

The principal objects of my invention are, 20 therefore, to provide a durable open net that will positively unload upon release of the draw cord and wherein the draw cord can be easily and quickly threaded for forming a substantially closed lower end for the net.

Another object of my invention is to provide improved means for securing the ends of the draw-cords together.

In accomplishing these and other objects of my invention, I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a loaded net, embodying my invention, being elevated from an extractor.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the net in unloaded condition.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view, showing a preferred form of latch for locking the net to the extractor housing.

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective View of my improved connector f-or securing the ends of a draw cord together. v

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

1 represents an extractor housing of cylindrical form adapted to contain the usual perforated basket 2, and a concentric bearing housing 3 projecting upwardly into the housing encloses a suitable bearing whereon the basket is rotated. The upper end of the extractor housing terminates in an inwardly inclined iiange 4 for supporting the usual cover (not shown) and a cover ring 5, of an unloading net later to be described, is provided with a plurality of notches 6 adapted to register with corresponding plates 7 xed, as indicated at 8, to the upper end of the extractor Foa ExTaAc'rons Kansas City, Mo.

i932.y serial No. 599,484

for insuring rotation of the ring with the extractor housing.

In order to anchor the vcover ring to the extractor, a latch mechanism is provided including socket members 9 secured, as by welding, to the lower face of the ring member for receiving latch bolts 10, urged radially from each socket by an expansion spring 1i having opposite ends bearing respectively on an end wall 12 vof the socket and against the inner end of the latch bolt. .The outer end of each bolt is extended through an aligned notch 13 of a depending annular flange 14 of the cover ring and an upstanding boss 15 of the bolt projects through a registering slot i6 of the ring and is provided with an opening 17 for receiving the outer/end of a link memberV 18. A cross bar 19 formed on a ring 20 connecting the inner ends of the links is adapted to engage the hook 21 of an elevator (not shown) commonly provided for lifting aloaded net from an extractor housing. j

The mechanism thus far described does not constitute a part of my present invention, but has been disclosed for the purpose of clarifying the relation thereto of a net 22 associated therewith and now to be described in detail.

Fixed in spaced relation to the inner face of the depending flange 14 by bolts 23, or the like, is an annular band 24, and secured in the space between the band and flange on the bolts 23 are chains 25 preferably formed of non-corrosive material.

As will be particularly clear from Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawingsLthe chains depend from the cover ring in an annular series and arev held in parallel relation throughout a portion of their length by connecting links 26. While selected strings of chains continue perpendicularly downwardly from the connecting links and terminate in rings 27, adjacent strings converge inwardly from the connecting links and are connected in pairs to opposite sides of the main strings as indicated at 28, 29 and 30, thereby defining triangular segments adapted when gathered at their lower ends, to form a substantially semispherical pocket for retaining articles of laundry in the net.

In order to draw the lower ends of the segmental portions together, a flexible cable 31 is provided for threading through the rings 27 and a ring or loop 32, of suiciently large dimensions to prevent passage thereof through the rings, is connected to one end oi' the cable.

On its opposite end, the cable is provided with a shaft portion 33 having an elongated opening 3-l for receiving a wedge 35 preferably retained in engagement with the shaft by a resilient blade 36, the blade having its lower end secured either to the wedge or in the opening 34 of the shaft. The wedge is provided with an opening 37 for receiving the eye member 38 of a pull cord 39.

Assuming a net to be constructed and secured to the cover ring of an extractor, the procedure of loading and unloading the `net would be as follows.

When the net is supported in elevated position on the hook 21, the draw cable is threaded through the rings of the triangular segments and the ends of the cable are connected, in the manner clearly shown in Fig. 4. It is to be noted that, when in connected condition, the cable forms a oonstricted lower ring of suilicient diameter to pass freely over the bearing housing and it is important that the net be properly aligned with the bearing housing when lowering, vthe net into the extractor. After the lower ends of the net have-been-drawn together and the net is lowered into the perforated extractor cylinder, thereby engaging the latch bolts with their respective notches, the net is loaded with wet laundry and moisture is drawn therefrom by centrifugal force, in the usual manner.

The ring 20 of the cover member is then connected to the elevator hook and as the cover ring is drawn upwardly, the latch bolts are withdrawn from the corresponding notches in the extractor rim and the net is elevated from the extractor. A jerk on the cord 39 then withdraws the wedge from the slot of the shaft 33 and the triangularly shaped segments drop to the position shown in Fig. 2, thereby quickly and entirely unloading 4angular segments adapted to form a substantially semispherical lower end when gathered,

and means for maintaining said segments in gathered condition.

2. A device of the character described including an upperanchor member, a circular series of vertical chains depending from said member, links in spaced relation with said member for con-V necting the chains in parallel relation,l some of said chains being connected to other of the vertical cnains to produce a plurality of triangular segments adapted to form a substantially semicircular bag when drawn together, and means for drawing saidsegments together.

3. A device of the character described including an upper support, a circular series of flexible members depending from thesupport and terminating in rings, a draw cord adapted to be passed through said rings having a loop on one end, a shaft on the opposite end of the cord for projection through the loop, and retractable means associated with the shaft for preventing withdrawal of the shaft from said loop.

ARCHIE O. LONG.V 

